Located in what was an attic on the top floor of a 1950s residential building, this tiny apartment is not only a masterclass in space optimisation, but also the expression of an anti-consumerist lifestyle.

WORDS Steve Smith PHOTOS Ossip Van Duivenbode

There are all kinds of cleverness going on here. Let’s start with the obvious one: the size. Called the Cabanon in deference to Cabanon de Le Corbusier, which the Modernist master built in 1951, this is most likely the smallest apartment in the world. Within the confines of its 6.89m2, its designers have magicked four rooms of ingeniously different volumes and materials. There’s a 3m-high living room with a kitchen, a 1.14m-high bedroom with plenty of storage, a toilet with a rain showerhead, and a spa with an infrared sauna and a whirlpool bath.

The clever folks behind this are STAR strategies + architecture, a firm based in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, founded in 2006 by Spanish architect and urbanist Beatriz Ramo. And Beatriz and her partner in work and life Bernd Upmeyer, founder of BOARD (Bureau of Architecture, Research, and Design), didn’t just design the Cabanon – they are also the owners and it’s their second home”.

So what inspired them to create such a small living space? “When we started designing the Cabanon, we never intended to make the smallest apartment in the world,” says Beatriz. “What we wanted for ourselves was a mini spa area – but we also needed a guest room for our family when they visited us. As architects, we like to optimise every project, big or small. It is about ensuring you get the maximum possibilities within your given area, budget or programme. In the Cabanon, optimisation was a key issue.”

Beyond the professional desire to optimise the space, Beatriz and Bernd were driven by a growing personal philosophy. “While designing the Cabanon, I started having an urge to simplify our apartment, to reorganise it and to get rid of stuff,” says Beatriz. “This is an ongoing process; a new approach to everyday life. I think twice before buying anything, or adding a new object to the house or to my wardrobe. The pleasure I once got from buying something, I now derive from getting rid of something I don’t need.”

Another slice of cleverness is that the four spaces in the Cabanon have been shaped based on standard products: the bedroom was designed with a specific mattress in mind; the spa according to the bathtub length; the kitchen based on the mini-fridge depth. This negated the need for customised objects, flipping the notion on its head and designing a space that adapts to more affordable products.

Not only is this approach cost-effective, it also contributes to what Beatriz calls “a radical experiment in optimisation in the sense of maximising functions, especially when it comes to height”. By embracing the principle that not all rooms need to have the same height – standard practice in collective housing – each space is designed to be fit-for-purpose, and storage space is optimised. The living room, for example, with its height of three metres, is three times taller than the bedroom with its one-metre height.

“This reduction does not mean austerity or discomfort,” says Beatriz. “We simply keep what we value and try to get rid of the superfluous. It brings clarity and peace to our minds and our spaces. Possessions take up a lot of space and energy. The Cabanon is of the most luxurious smallness – an epicurean reduction.” st-ar.nl | star_strategies_architecture | b-o-a-r-d.nl | bureau_of_architecture_r_d

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Situated on a dyke on a branch of the Zaan River, and inspired by the black barns found among the low-lying polders of the Netherlands’ northwest, this unique houseboat is the result of its owners’ clear vision.

For Eleonora Nieuwenhuizen and partner Erwin, the pull to live on the water was a strong one. She had grown up in Oostknollendam – a town in the Dutch province of North Holland – and the couple returned to build this special home, surrounded on three sides by archetypal Dutch landscape. “Erwin and I knew exactly what we wanted,” says Eleonora, “and we already had a good idea of what was needed to create it. We found architect Angela Holterman of Hollands Zicht architects via Pinterest – she lives on the water herself, and has experience in designing water homes – then selected several contractors and project-managed it all ourselves.”

The home’s location and surroundings dictated the architect’s approach, with the outdoor areas being a special focus. Roof terraces and floating terraces were natural options, but she had to take the elements into consideration too. “The wind around here has free rein as soon as you stick your head above ground level,” says Angela. “We solved this by including the outdoor spaces within the contours of the house. The adjacent spaces provide shelter, and a direct relationship between inside and outside.”

The patio, for example, is an extension of the kitchen, and the loggia is downstairs on the master bedroom. The waving reeds provide shelter and privacy to life in and around the water, as do the wooden slats at the “black swan” façades. And that provides two different perspectives when living here: from the sunken ground floor looking at swans floating by, or enjoying the views from upstairs.

Eleonora took on the interior design herself. “Interior design is totally my thing,” she says. “It is my passion to decorate houses beautifully, and I get inspiration during the trips I make to India, Bali, Puglia and Ibiza to visit friends. In the Black Swan, I chose green as the main colour for the ground floor. This is reflected in the green corduroy couches with the hanging plants in the living room, and the green heron Gucci wallpaper in the master bedroom.”

On the upper floor, denim-blue predominates. The carpet under the dining table, the custom cushions, and the Delft blue wallpaper all meld beautifully. “Of course, you will also find all kinds of items throughout the boat that link to life on water,” says Eleonora. “It’s a nod to the various industrial ship lights, but also the lighting in Indian kitchens that reminds me of fish traps. A ship’s bell, old doors of an Alexandrian bed box, and wallpaper in the stairwell made from my uncle Hajo’s old sea charts complete the picture.”

This typical Dutch landscape also requires Dutch elements. “I chose Delft blue wallpaper with various old Dutch signs, windmills and tile texts,” says Eleonora, “as well as some tiles that belonged to my grandmother, mixed in with new tiles with a golden edge. The Frisian Whites in the kitchen add to this, as do the two wooden bedsteads.

“I like to surround myself with beautiful things.I love colour,and I don’t really have a particular style. It’s more of everything. C’est moi!”

You can rent the home on boutiquehomesinholland.com.

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The intensity and mystique of buildings in black is explored to the full in this book. Showcasing 150 structures built in the past 1 000 years, from Icelandic chapels to modernist houses, from beach shacks to skyscrapers, Black celebrates dark architecture all over the world. Here is a taster.

1. Stacked Cabin

Johnsen Schmaling Architects, Muscoda, Wisconsin, USA

At the far corner of a forested clearing sits a compact cabin designed for protected interaction with its bucolic surroundings. The woodland home is constructed from exposed concrete at its base, and black cedar, anodised metal and plaster. This black material palette causes the cabin to recede into the shadows and foliage, while also strongly delineating its bold form.

2. Roads and Waterworks Support Centre

Neutelings Riedijk Architects, Harlingen, The Netherlands

A regional support centre for a busy public works department, this low-slung trapezoidal structure was designed to support a number of disparate functions under a single continuous volume. The tapered single-storey building is clad in black corrugated metal panels so that the structure itself becomes a backdrop for the fluorescent painted roadwork vehicles that are constantly moving about the perimeter.

Black Desert House

Oller & Pejic, Yucca Valley, California, USA

Built on an isolated 1 ha site in a niche carved between rock formations in the High Desert in Southern California, Black Desert House was inspired by the client’s goal to build a house like a shadow. Since in the desert a shadow is often the only resting place for the eye, the intention of a black house was to act as a similar respite, not only from the relentless desert sun but also from the stress of urban life.

In the evening, the house disappears into the night, with only the faintest impression of structure lit by the moon and stars. The interiors are also executed in black and grey so that even the inside of the house recedes into the shadows during the day.

For more information about Black: Architecture in Monochrome (Phaidon), visit phaidon.com.

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Anke and Wiebren Bergsma have created a distinctly South African space in the Netherlands, named Nuweland, with some of our finest art and design on display.

Living in South Africa for five years, Anke and Wiebren Bergsma became fascinated with our local creative talent. So when they returned to the Netherlands, they decided to open a gallery with a curated selection of South African furniture, decor and art. We were curious to know more.

What do Dutch people think of South African design?
Those who have travelled to South Africa immediately recognise the designs, but those who have never been tend to have a stereotypical view of what South African design and art would be, and are surprised at the beauty, aesthetics and craftsmanship of the designs.

Why did you call the gallery Nuweland?
We love Newlands in Cape Town; it’s where we lived. Then also because everything about this endeavour is new, from the space we have created to the concept of having a South African-inspired spot in the Netherlands.

What plans do you have for the space?
We are planning an exhibition of Bastiaan van Stenis’s work. We would also like to develop the property to include a Cape Winelands-inspired space where guests can enjoy a meal and a glass of wine.

For more information about the space, visit nuweland.nl.

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Architecture firms RAMSA and Rijnboutt are behind an exciting redevelopment project in Amsterdam called Nowadays.

As part of this project, they collaborated with artists Arno Coenen, Iris Roskam and Hans van Bentem to transform Damrak’s Beurspassage into a striking work of art, entitled Amsterdam Oersoep.

The 450 m² ceiling, which depicts symbolic scenes that reference Amsterdam’s famed canals, are made up of more than one million glass mosaic tiles.

Seven gilded chandeliers, made from recycled bicycle parts, referencing another Amsterdam tradition, line the ceiling. Covered in handmade tiles, large mirrors and 14 stained glass lamps, inspired by traditional portal lamps, the walls are a further celebration of water, together with the Italian Terrazzo flooring.

Browse the gallery above and watch the video below to get a closer look at this magical space.

(h/t) archdaily.com

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Dutch interior designer Robert Kolenik is behind the look of this modern apartment in Amsterdam.

While the apartment takes up three floors, as with many buildings in Amsterdam, the space is actually quite narrow. “Homes in the city centre are limited in terms of size,” says Robert, “so the challenge is to create functional space that retains a luxurious, homely feel.” With the aim of maximising space, Robert created a central wall unit to link different areas of the apartment together in an organic way, while at the same time making use of sizeable furniture items. “By putting in larger pieces, I emphasise a sense of spaciousness in the home,” he says. “The floating block in dark oak creates a line in the apartment that visually enlarges the space.”

Both the living area and dining area make use of modern designer pieces, from a bronze and marble coffee table to a solid walnut dining room table. Minotti armchairs, a four-metre Minotti Hamilton sofa and felt Vitra dining chairs also feature in the space. “The side table and the coffee table are closely matched. Their luxury materials link up to the finishes on the wall cabinet,” explains Robert.

The dining area is lit with LED lighting and includes a Boley gas fireplace, both of which add a sense of warmth to the room.

View more of Robert Kolenik’s projects at kolenik.com.

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Since it was founded more than 20 years ago, Generator Hostels has opened some 12 locations across Europe, including Paris, Rome, Venice, Stockholm, London and Berlin. Their tenth location, which opened earlier this year, was in Amsterdam’s eastern neighbourhood, overlooking Oosterpark.

Here Generator Hostels took over a former zoological university and turned it into accommodation for up to 564 guests across 168 rooms that include twin units, quadruple units, as well as a luxury apartment for six people.

Aside from the terraces, which offer incredible views of Oosterpark, the building also features site-specific artworks by local artists and designers. Some of the highlights are murals by graphic artist Pieter Ceizer in the elevator shaft; Amsterdam’s The Bright Side Gallery also curated sculptures, drawings, as well as graphic interventions in different spaces within the hostel.

DesignAgency, Generator’s global design partner, worked with Dutch architecture firm IDEA Ontwerp in going about re-imagining the building, keeping some of the original features such as floors and the marble staircase, while converting others such as the lecture hall, which was transformed into a quirky bar with tiered seating and green reading lamps. The library, which also features original features, has been converted into a relaxation space that lends itself well to events.

Find out more at generatorhostels.com.

(h/t) yatzer.com

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Garden designer Piet Oudolf lives with his wife in Hummelo in The Netherlands. Together they maintain one of the most beautiful gardens we’ve ever seen.

The garden, which has been open to the public for 35 years, is filled with plants that the couple has collected from across Europe.

In this clip, Piet explains how he approaches the design of this spectacular natural space. A must-watch for any flora fanatic.

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Jimmy, who was born in rural China, moved to The Netherlands when he was 16. Living in Amsterdam opened him up to a whole new world, something which he is determined to capture.

This seven-minute short film focuses on the life and work of this young street-style photographer. Not only is the subject matter in this clip captivating, but the way in which the video has been shot (directed, filmed and edited) by Wytse Koetse is something to behold too.

Definitely worth a watch.

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This adorable bedding range by Dutch brand Snurk is now available in SA.

The whimsical linen collection and its exciting range of designs, from astronauts and ballerinas to firefighters and bunnies, will put the fun back into bedtime.

Snurk was founded by Peggy van Neer and Erik van Loo in 2007 and over the years has become available in over 500 stores worldwide. The concept behind the children’s range was to bring something different to the market. “Our designs may be sleek and design-like but not very serious,” Peggy explains. Each set is designed in The Netherlands and made in Portugal.

The ballerina bedspread, one of our favourite prints, came about as a result of a collaboration with the Dutch National Ballet, who provided them with a ballerina to create the perfect pose, as well as a handmade tutu to feature on the design.

The collection is made of 100% cotton percale for a comfortable night’s sleep.

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